Bactrocera melanota

Description

Typical of Bactrocera larvae with the following specific characteristics for the third instar:

Body. Body length 7.5–9.5mm.

Head. Stomal organ: with a mixture of long tapering and short peg-like sensilla; peg sensilla unbranched; other peg-sensilla-like structures absent. Stomal region: secondary lobes short, leaf-like (5–6, large); margins of secondary lobes all entire. Number of oral ridges 11–15; margins scalloped (relatively short, stout, gently tapering teeth). Accessory plates elongate; number of accessory plates 9–14 (~~); margins serrated (with stout teeth). Median oral lobe absent or not protruding.

Spinules and creeping welts. Dorsal spinules on segments T1-T3.

Anterior spiracles. Anterior spiracle convex to flat. Anterior spiracular tubules 9–14.

Caudal segment (a8) and anal lobes. Anal lobes plainly visible, but not protuberant (not at all prominent); simple.

Posterior spiracles. Slits 2.5x longer than wide (about). Dorsal spiracular processes with numerous trunks arising from an elongate base (long processes). Number of dorsal spiracular processes 18–24. Number of ventral spiracular processes 18–24. Number of lateral spiracular processes 8–12.

Host plants

Family	Genus
Anacardiaceae	Mangifera
Myrtaceae	Psidium
Rutaceae	Citrus

Biogeographic region and distribution

Australasian

Cook Is.

Adult taxonomy

Bactrocera (Bactrocera) melanota (Coquillett)

Dacus melanotus Coquillett 1909: 13.—Cook Is. LT ♂ USNM. Lectotype designated by Drew 1989: 144.

Dacus rarotongae Froggatt 1911: 872.—Cook Is. Rarotonga. ST ♂ ♀ NSWA?

References

Carroll, L. E., A. L. Norrbom, M. J. Dallwitz, and F. C. Thompson. 2004 onwards. Pest fruit flies of the world – larvae. Version: 8th December 2006. http://delta-intkey.com.

White, I. M., and M. M. Elson-Harris. 1992. Fruit flies of economic significance: their identification and bionomics. CAB International; Wallingford, UK. 601 p.